Page 73 of Choosing a Forever
“Talmage Monson. He—he came in with the fire department.”
“Are you family?
“I’m his wife.”
She clicks a few times. “I’ll have a nurse come grab you in a moment to take you back to him.”
She’s far too calm about this. He’s injured! Can’t she tell I’m losing my mind with worry over here?
I take a seat and try to count the ceiling tiles to calm my frayed nerves. I hate hospitals, but this hospital makes me especially itchy with anxiety. It’s the hospital I was taken toafter—
I take a deep breath and shake my head. Thinking about it will only send me into an anxiety spiral.
I almost didn’t answer the call from the unknown number earlier, but something in my gut told me I needed to, just like the night my parents died.
It was Enoch, Tal’s friend, letting me know there was an incident at a fire, and Tal was being taken to Mountainside Memorial.
I didn’t even hesitate to message my manager and get to my car. I white-knuckled the entire drive, tears blurring my vision. Enoch didn’t have time to give me any more information on how serious it was, so my mind immediately went to third degree burns and life-altering damage or worse, death.
I don’t want to lose him when I just got him back.
He’s already embedded himself into my life, burrowed under my skin. I can’t lose the love of my life again.
Not when I haven’t even told him I love him. I’ve been too much of a coward to give in to my feelings because I’m worried he’ll reject me again.
You’re so stupid.
The rejection would hurt, yes, but can I live with myself if I let him slip away for a second time? Can I survive it?
Tal has been tattooed onto my skin since I was fourteen years old. Even when I tried to cover it up, he was always there underneath the surface. Now, he’s engraved onto my fucking soul. Losing him in any capacity will be like ripping out a vital organ.
But am I strong enough to lay it all out there again? To risk my heart?
“Talmage Monson’s family?” a nurse in blue scrubs calls from the doorway to the back of the ER.
I stand, and out of the corner of my eye, I see a familiar woman do the same.
Oh great. Talmage’s mom is here.
Laurie Monson looks the same as when I was a teenager, though her hair is a bit more gray than blonde now, pinned back in a neat ponytail.
Her face pinches into a frown. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m his wife. I came to make sure he’s okay.”
“Well,I’mhis emergency contact.”
“He must not have updated it yet. Either way, I’m going back there to make sure my husband is alright,” I snap.
The nurse clears her throat. “If you ladies will follow me.”
The nurse leads us to a curtained off area, directing us to go inside. Tal gives me a sheepish grin as he sees me. He has a tan wrap around his left ankle, and he looks exhausted but otherwise unharmed. I want to go to him, give him a hug, sob uncontrollably with relief that he’s okay—
“Oh! My baby!” Laurie wails, pushing past me and throwing her arms around his neck.
Tal’s grin falls. “Mom? What are you doing here?”
“I’m your emergency contact, they called to let me know you were injured.” She tries to stroke his face, but he gently bats her hands away.
